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Heart-breaking images remain burned in memories of Notre Dame parishioners 'The parish has been rebuilt but not reborn since we never died.' - Roland J. Masse By DAVE JOLIVET, EDITOR FALL RIVER - It was a bright, sun-splashed afternoon throughout most of Southeastern Massachusetts on Tuesday, May 11, 1982. The lone exception was the Flint section of Fall River where the magnificent edifice of Notre Dame de Lourdes Church and the neighborhood to its immediate south were covered in a dark shroud of smoke, flames, embers and ashes. Shortly after 2 p.m. on that day a small fire started by workmen soldering on the roof, exploded into a firestorm that quickly engulfed the 235-foot tall granite structure. Aided by a breeze from the. ~o~h, the intense heat, flames and embers from the church jumped south across Bedard Street and ignited any flammable object in its path. In all, more than 30 buildings, most of which were tenement apartments, were destroyed or damaged. Three hundred residents were displaced, many of them Notre Dame parishioners. Several businesses
were lost and the 80-year-old church, with its familiar twinspires, was reduced to rubble and ashes. Firefighters from more than 25 surrounding communities helped battle the conflagration. The total property loss was listed at more than $13 million. Despite the mass destruction, by the grace of God, no one was killed, or seriously injured for that matter. After the smoke cleared and the ashes and rubble were swept away, the Notre Dame Parish community opened a new chapter in its history, breaking ground for a new church building on the same spot two years Jater in May of 1984. Bishop Daniel A. Cronin dedicated the new house of worship on Dec. 13, 1987. Today is the 25th anniversary of that fateful May afternoon in the city's East End. There are as many stories about the great fire as there are parishioners who lived through it. A compilation of every story would fill volumes. To mark the ocTum to page 11 - Fire
THE HEAD OF THE CLASS -
Bishop George W. Coleman shares a moment with hundreds of eighth-graders who paid a visit to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River as part of their studies on the history of the diocese. Students toured the building and attended Mass celebrated by the bishop. Story on page 20. (Photo by Mike Gordon) 'I
Acceptance of JPII High School announced by Bi~hop Coleman HYANNIS - ''Today it is with great pleasure that I announce the Fall River Diocese is prepared to accept the Pope John Paul n High School and to open it this September as a diocesan high school," Bishop George W. Coleman told a gathering of planners and benefactors on May 7. The bishop's statement follows: Being able to offer Catholic secondary education on Cape Cod has long been the dream of many over the years: previous bishops, our Cape pastors and priests,
diQcesaneducation officials, and so many ofourCatholic faq:rilies who live in this beautiful part of our Fall River DiOcese. iI also shared that dream while serving as the dioce$l director of education from 1977 to 1985. It was my belief that there would be a sufficient number of sttldents whose tuition would cover the operational ex~s of a high school, but that the challenge was the ~ capital outlay needed to build a school- a chalI Tum to page four - High School
Support to the divorced and separated; an ongoing ministry for all seasons By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR ORLEANS and NORfH DARTMOUTH- For some Catholics whose marriages are in shambles, the hardest part in seeking help is amassing enough courage to get out of the car. For others, the craving for encouragement and understanding overrides the scariness of loss of anonymity and any embarrassment that frequently accompanies a failed marriage and divorce - and the need to talk about it with a support group. ''It's never too late for someone to walk in here and find encouragement, assistance, hospitality, counsel and spiritual advice;' said Mary Ann Eaton, a coordinator of the Divorced-Separated Support Group that meets monthly on Cape Cod offering a variety ofassistance to those in need of healing.
Meanwhile in North Dartmouth, Bob Menard, co-facilitator with Joanne Dupre of the Divorced-Separated Support Group there, says "Our mailing list includes 325 people, and we never know how many will show up for our meetings on the second and last Wednesdays of every month. The meeting might start with six and end up with 30." What the groups offer is a mix. "Sometimes we have informed speakers or watch videos and sometimes there are jamsessions where people simply want to share stories and talk. But whatever, we keep focus on the individual rather than just programs," said Eaton, who has been involved with the group for 16 years, She is one of four coordinators, also called board members, at the helm of the support group under the aegis of the DioeTum to page 15 - Ministry
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A DARK DAY - The once majestic Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in Fall River burned to the ground on May 11, 1982. Today marks the 25th anniversary of the catastrophic event.
The Changing Face of Our Diocese - Page 12